Political polarization of trust in science
- 1Centre for Ethics in Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, UK
- 2School of History, Law and Social Sciences, Bangor University, UK
Abstract
Contrary to widespread claims of a crisis in public trust in science, this article argues that recent pandemic-era trends reflect a long-term pattern of bilateral political polarization rather than a universal decline in scientific confidence. Recent empirical data show that trust and distrust in science have both increased – producing an apparent “pandemic paradox” – driven by ideological bias operating within gaps in public understanding. The study identifies a misunderstanding of how science works as the fundamental cause of politicized trust, where misconceptions create space for ideological bias to shape which claims individuals find credible. Critically, the article argues that existing interventions – improved science communication and increased science education – are insufficient. The core problem is not the quantity of science education but its type. Only by teaching the methodological and institutional limitations of science can the field depolarize public trust and build politically stable confidence in scientific institutions.
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BibTeX
@article{hyde2026political,
title = {{Political polarization of trust in science}},
author = {Byron Hyde},
journal = {Public Understanding of Science (Bristol, England)},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1177/09636625261458088},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625261458088},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Political polarization of trust in science
AU - Byron Hyde
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/08
JO - Public Understanding of Science (Bristol, England)
DO - 10.1177/09636625261458088
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625261458088
AB - Contrary to widespread claims of a crisis in public trust in science, this article argues that recent pandemic-era trends reflect a long-term pattern of bilateral political polarization rather than a universal decline in scientific confidence. Recent empirical data show that trust and distrust in science have both increased – producing an apparent “pandemic paradox” – driven by ideological bias operating within gaps in public understanding. The study identifies a misunderstanding of how science works as the fundamental cause of politicized trust, where misconceptions create space for ideological bias to shape which claims individuals find credible. Critically, the article argues that existing interventions – improved science communication and increased science education – are insufficient. The core problem is not the quantity of science education but its type. Only by teaching the methodological and institutional limitations of science can the field depolarize public trust and build politically stable confidence in scientific institutions.
SN - 0963-6625
SN - 1361-6609
ER -